Packing containers for fragile articles



June 9, 1931., L. MANN I PACKING CONTAINERS FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

' vwewtoz June 9, 1931. MANN 1,@9,55

PACKING CONTAINERS FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed'Deo. 14, 1927 I '2 Sheets-Shea 2 30 accompanying drawings,

Patented June 9, 193 1 NITED STATES mass!) PATENT OFFICE LEON MANN, OIE MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, IBY ASSIGNMENTS, TO

HOLED-TITE PACKING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PACKING com-Amazes FOR rmemn narrows Application filed December 14, 1927. Serial No. 239,87 7.

The improvements relate to the packing of fragile articles, such as bottles, incandescent bulbs, radio tubes and other similar glass articles and fragile containers and their pri- )mary objects, among others, are the production of a packing unit adapted to be used in standard or other cartons or crates and to secure and hold the packing units as well as the articles therein, to protect the latter from 101 injury and facilitate the dispensing, carrying and handling of the same.

I have found that the cracking and breaking of articles of the type above catalogued, when packed in cases or other containers em- 'ployed for transportation and storage,'is due not onl to the movement of the articles in the pac ing and their indirect contact with one another, but also to the movement of the packing elements relative to each othertherey Sub ecting the said articles to cracking or breaking shocks or strains. The present improvements are adapted to be used in lace of the usual wrappers and sleeves, an not only hold the articles themselves but secure or lock the packing elements against relative movement with respect to each other and at the same time serve as cushioning sup-' ports for the packed articles. 7

The improvements are illustrated in the in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line -33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan of a modification; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig.6 is a partial plan of another modified.

form;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a partial plan of another modified form; and v Fig. 9 is a section on line 9--9 of Fig. 8. In carrying out the present improvements,

the flats 10 are provided with a series of article receiving or protecting portions or re cesses 11, so disposed and distributed that alternate ends of the articles are adjacent.

This arrangement as shown in Fig. 1 with rein the carton.

movement of the article in the recess 11, the

ends 16 and 17 respectively as hereinafter spect to bottles is desirable, not only for economy inspace and to render the package more compact and symmetrical, but also to secure more even distribution of the weight I Althou h the improvements are depicted as applie to flats for packing bottles they are not limited thereto, but are equally applicable where the portions 11 are symmetrical or of any other configuration. The portions 11 are made integral with the flat, which is preferably made of felted wood pulp or other fibres, the form and arrangement of these portions 11, as aforementioned, may be varied without departing from the scope of the present improvements. 5

The flat with the article holding portions is made up as a packing unit, six such portions being usually provided, although that number may be increased or diminished without departing from the scope of the improvements.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the neck portions of the recesses or portions 11 have a dome-shaped knob or stud 12 formed integral with the sheet comprising the flat, while the body of the portions 11 has an upstanding inverted dome-shaped cushion 13 also integrally formed in the flat. Said element 13 comprlses an annular upstanding rib or collar 14 enclosing a concave-convex bowl or dome 15 countersunk with respect to said collar in the direction of the recess 11. It will be noted that the bulged area 12 is slightly smaller than the cup or dome 15, and that the curvature of the former is in a direction opposite to that of the latter.

The recesses 11 terminate in end portions 16 and 17 which serve to limit longitudinal curved walls of same preventing lateral movement thereof. The axes of portions 12 and 15 are disposed equidistantly from the ex lained. 11 use, a flat is first placed in the bottom of a case, carton or other container, and the bottles or other globular articles placed thereon, so that the body of the bottles lies in recesses 11, with mouths and bases adjacent ends 16 and 17 respectively. It is to be noted that the staggered cushions 13 on alternate body portions of the recesses 11, afford a sturdy, yet semi-rigid base for the stacked layers above, and in this location provides cushioned supports for the entire contents of the container. Another flat is then inverted and placed on the bottles. Referring now to Fig. 2, such an inverted flat 10 is shown in dotted lines, broken away, and beneath the full line section. As depicted, therefore, the full lines showing, constitutes the bottom flat of the second layer of bottles. It is notable here, that the stud 12 and cushion 13 of the inverted flat (dotted lined) engage the cushion 13 and stud 12 respectively of the full line bottom flat of the second layer. That is to say, the studs 12 on the neck portions of the flat shown in dotted lines nest within the cushions 13 on the body portions of the fiat immediately above (in full lines) Similarly the studs of the full lined flat nest in the cushions of the dotted line flat. It is seen in this relation of parts that now each stud presents a curved surface in the same direction as that of the dome or bowl of its corresponding cushion, and due to this telescopic arrangement, space is materially conserved since the two contacting plies of material are reduced to that of substantially one thickness. Although the entire flat and its elements, thus formed, have great strength and will preserve its shape under ordinary conditions of use, a certain amount of inherent elasticity has been found to reside in flats of this character. Accordingly these nested studs and cushions resist pressure from above and below, but tend to flatten under unusual pressure or shock, returning to their original configuration after release of such strains. A highly efficient cushioning means is therefore provided for the articles packed.

These nested elements 12 and 13 besides resisting movement in the plane of their axes, serve to prevent lateral or shifting move ment of the flats themselves. This is accomplished by the interlocking relation of parts 12 and 13, whereby movement in a horizontal plane passing through said parts is resisted. This feature is of marked value in packing where flats are employed. Rough handling which includes dropping of the case, frequently causes lateral movement of the flats, with the possibility of exposing the articles to each other. The present improvements provide for such a contingency in the interlocking means described, which prevent relative movement of the adjacent engaged flats.

Referring further to Fig. 2, a layer of articles 18 is placed in the flat 10 shown in full lines, and another flat inverted and placed over said articles, as shown in dotted lines, and this operation is repeated until the desired number of layers has been packed.

Since the entire flats comprising the article holding areas are inherently resilient, instead of placing the first holding flat on the bottom of the case or crate, an extra cushion effect may be obtained by first placing a flat in the bottom of the case in inverted position, or in normal position with a sheet of straw board or other material interposed between it and the first holding flat and the same procedure may be followed at the top of the container.

Although the recesses or article holding portions 11, are shown as not completely surrounding the articles when packed, it is understood that said recesses may be formed deeper or of any suitable depth desired so that the articles when packed will be wholly enclosed without departing from the scope of the present improvements.

The flat 10 has also formed thereon and integral therewith, a lip or flap 19 adapted to be folded along weakened line 20. This flap may be folded to a position normal to the plane of the flat 10 and upward with respect to the normal position of the flat. WVhen a layer is packed with a fiat above and below same, the flaps 19 of each flat will enclose the layer at opposite ends. It is obvious, therefore, that the present improvements not only may be employed in boxes or cartons, but also form a portable carton for small quantities for convenient carriage by the ultimate consumer. Instead of the rectangular carton described, the flats may be made with but three or four holding compartments, so that four or three layers of articles may be superimposed, thus forming a substantially square carton for convenient handling, in lots of a dozen or more. In all of these portable cartons, it is noted that the protruding cushions 13 of the outer flats serve as cushion supports for the carton.

In the modification in Figs. 4 and 5, the article holding portions 21 have spaced ribs 22 to 24 and spaced studs or knobs 25 to 27 formed therein and integral therewith. The central rib is not completed, but is broken at the center so that a small space remains between the parts 23 and 23. The stud 26, as shown, is formed rectangular and is disposed on, and longitudinally of, the neck portion of the recess 21. Said stud is'slightly less in width than the break or space between ribs 23, 23. All the ribs and studs are suitably spaced, so that when a'similar flat is inverted and placed thereon, the elements 25 and 27 of the inverted flat will be just beyond ribs 22 and 24 while stud 26 will occupy the space between ribs 23, 23. Obviously the same re lation of elements will exist at the neck and body of each recess 21.] The cushioning and locking features of this-arrangement'are obvious and in line with those set forth with respect to the preferred form.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6 to 7, studs or knobs 32 to 35 are suitably formed,

as heretofore described, in the article holding portions 31, another stud 36 being formed in the neck portion. The cushioning and locking feature is obvious, the stud 36 lying in the area defined by the four studs 32 to 35, when two flats are nested as heretofore described.

In the modification presented in Figs. 8 and 9, the bulged areas or studs 42, 43, and 44, are formed on one side of the plane of recess 41 and somewhat smaller than studs 45, 46 and 47 formed in the neck portion on the opposite side of the plane of the recess. In packing relation the elements 42 to 44 nest in elements 45 to 47 respectively, all being suitably spaced and aligned to accomplish the locking function.

Although only a portion of the flats is depicted in Figs. 4 to 9, for convenience of illustration, it is understood, that they may be formed with any desired number of article holding recesses as heretofore described.

Various other modifications within the scope of the improvements will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim: v

1., A packing of the character described, comprising a'sheet of material provided with spaced recesses to form compartments for receiving articles to be packed, cushion element-s formed in the walls of said recesses, said elements having curved portions extending laterally and longitudinally of said recesses and having locking relation with similar elements of a superimposed tray, whereby rela-. tive sliding movement in all directions is prevented.

2. The combination of two sheets of material each provided with spaced recesses thereon, said recesses being arranged in groups,

. and when facing each other adapted to hold an article therebetween, said recesses having unbroken studs formed therein for holding similar sheets above and below, against relative movement.

arranged so that when a plurality of pairs of flats are superimposed 1n article holding position, the bulged areas of one flat nest in the dome-shaped areas of the adjacent flat.

6. A combined cushioning and locking tray for fragile articles comprising a sheet having a plurality of article receiving recesses therein, each recess having a plurality of spaced cupped areas formed therein, said cupped areas constructed to oppose movement towards the packed article as well as in a lateral plane passing through said areas.

7. A flat for packing bottles and other cylindrical articles comprising a sheet of unfinished pulp material having bottle holding recesses formed therein, said recesses formed with alternate neck andbody portions, cupped locking areas formed in said neck portions,

and protruding cup-shaped cushion supportsformed on said body portions.

8. A tray having article receiving recesses, the walls of said recesses having spaced cushion niembers, said members having different relative positions and directions with respect to the wall of the recess on which they are disposed, said members being adapted to interengage with similar members of a superposed tray.

Witness my hand this 12th day of Dec., 1927, at the city of New York, county of New York, State of New York.

LEON MANN.

3. A tray of the character described, comprising a sheet provided with spaced article receiving recesses therein, sald recesses havcushions for packed articles, said knobs adapted to engage in locking relation with a similarly formed adjacent flat.

4. A flat of thecharacter described comprising a sheet provided with spaced recesses forming compartments for receiving articles to'be packed, each recess having a knob and an upstanding inverted dome-shaped area formed thereinin spaced relation.

5. A flat of the character described comprising a sheet provided with spaced article havingalternate deep and shallow portions, each shallow portion provided with a bulged area formed therein, each deep portion having an inverted dome-shaped area formed therein, all being constructed and a ing spaced knobs formed therein providing V 50- 

